MUMBAI, August 13: Mumbai police today rescued a three-year-old boy from the clutches of kidnappers within 18 hours after his abduction from his Dongri residence and arrested the abductors Jafar Kadarbhai Arab and Imtiyaz Ibrahim Malik, both residents of Antop Hill in Central Mumbai.

Mast Fahad was kidnapped from 86, Zakaria Masjid Road, Dongri on the afternoon of August 11 when he was playing. He disappeared without a trace, leaving his 55-year-old grandfather Abdulla Ibrahim, a chappal vendor, clueless.

After a futile search of the neighbourhood, Ibrahim lodged a complaint at Dongri police station that his grandson was missing.

Even before the complainant had returned home from the police station, his son Ismail received a phone call around 5 pm at his shop, with the caller threatening the infant would be killed if he did not pay up Rs 25,000.

Zonal assistant commissioner of police Vikas Gaikwad said similar calls were received on August 12 demanding the ransom. Police monitored the incoming calls with the aid of MTNL and the calls were traced to a public booth, `Laxmi's sales and service centre', at Antop Hill.

Investigating team kept a vigil in the area and spotted Fahad with Jafar, when he came to make a call. He was nabbed immediately and Imtiyaz was arrested later.

``We chased the abductor, who had come along with the boy, and nabbed him,'' said inspector A Ambre.

Arab during police interrogation admitted that he kidnapped the boy with help of his 18-year-old associate Imtiyaz Ibrahim Malik for money.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.